Kevin Keegan leaps into Jurgen Klopp’s defence following early criticism

Newcastle United favourite Kevin Keegan feels Jurgen Klopp is still the right man to manage Liverpool.

The German head coach endured a tough month of September with his side winning just one game in seven across all competitions. As a result, the 50-year-old is under pressure to perform when the Reds take on rivals Manchester United in next Saturday’s league meeting.

Speaking at an Aspire Academy event, Keegan, who won three league titles and one European Cup as a Liverpool player, feels his former side should keep patience with the German manager, he said: “I think he’s a great manager. He fits Liverpool, he gets Liverpool. There are a lot of teams in the Premier League struggling in defence. All the rules have been changed to suit attackers — yellow cards, red cards. It’s no fun being a defender. If a defender misses three tackles he’s off so it’s no wonder they are cautious. I don’t think Manchester City, Manchester United or Chelsea are great defensively. It’s not just a Liverpool problem. I hope they have patience with him if it doesn’t actually go quite right because he is the right guy.”

Klopp’s side were initially termed as title-contenders after they secured two wins and a draw from their opening three games. However, a poor month of September has seen them fall seven points adrift of league leaders Manchester City, who are unbeaten in the first seven games of the campaign.

Liverpool have had the tendency to play their ‘A’ game against top-six opposition over the past year, and a big challenge lies in the month of October with important clashes against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Both their opponents usually possess a strong defensive record, and the Reds will have a job in their hands to secure positive results, while ensuring that they keep a clean sheet. Liverpool currently possess the joint-third worst defence in the division with 12 goals conceded in just seven games.